French Open: Venus Williams is back in black (lace)
Venus Williams is sticking to what seems to be working for her at the French Open -- a crushing serve and lacy, black corset.
Wearing the same outfit that raised more than a few eyebrows during Sunday's opening round in Paris, the second-seeded Williams beat Arantxa Parra Santonja of Spain, 6-2, 6-4, in the second round Wednesday.
"Lace has never been done before in tennis, and I've been wanting to do it for a long time," Williams said of the outfit she wore despite a brisk change in the weather, with mostly cloudy skies and temperatures in the 60s. "The illusion of just having bare skin is definitely for me a lot more beautiful."
Top-ranked and returning champion Roger Federer also advanced, enduring one tense set and two rain delays before eliminating Alejandro Falla of Colombia, 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-4, in the second round of the French Open on Wednesday.
Follow all the action: men's singles, men's doubles, women's singles and women's doubles.
-- Chuck Schilken
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Photo: Venus Williams serves against Arantxa Parra Santonja on Wednesday. Credit: Clive Brunskill / Getty Images
